Two Ottawa police officers, three paramedics hurt by training-exercise explosion
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Two paramedics were seriously injured while two Ottawa police officers
sustained minor injuries Wednesday during a training exercise that involved the
use of explosives to practice forced-entry techniques, police say.

The officers and paramedics were part of an exercise using explosives to
force their way into an abandoned residence when the accident occurred, Ottawa
police Chief Charles Bordeleau told a news conference.

A third paramedic also sustained minor injuries, Bordeleau said. All five
victims were immediately transported to hospital.

“There were three paramedics also that were injured, two of them more serious
than the third one,” he said.

“Their injuries are serious in nature, but I am told they will recover.”

The exercise – part of a regular training routine that involves Ottawa police
working closely with the RCMP and other emergency services – was taking place in
the city’s western suburb of Kanata.

Bordeleau would provide only scant details of exactly what happened.

“The training exercise revolved around forced-entry explosives, which
involves the use of small charges of explosives to open up doorways and
windows,” he said.

“They were in proximity of the detonation and the ensuing gases that would
have been released.”

Bordeleau said because the paramedics are considered civilians, the Special
Investigations Unit is involved in the investigation.

“Explosives are used in training exercises and real live operations to assist
officers to forcibly enter into residences or businesses to assist them in
getting access to those buildings,” he said.

“What type of explosives, how it was detonated I can’t comment on because
that will be part of the Special Investigations Unit investigation.”